CHEMS Seminar: The use of porous calcium phosphate scaffolds for bone regeneration

Abstract

Calcium phosphate ceramics, such as hydroxyapatite (HA) are known for their osteoconductivity.  Used as coatings in the orthopaedic and dental implant industries on metallic implant surfaces, the HA is also known to be biocompatible and is capable of enhancing rapid bone-implant osseointegration.   To take advantage of these properties, HA can be fabricated into porous, interconnected scaffolds that have similar anatomical shape as natural bone.  Possible applications for these scaffolds include uses as bone fillers in large bone defects found in cancer patients after bone resection, in patients with gun shot wounds or automobile accidents, and in soldiers after large traumatic injuries sustained in war.  This talk will focus on the scaffold characteristics and some of the in vivo studies that have been performed.